Pressing machine and control mechanism therefor



y 1935- J. B. SANDO ET AL 2,006,749 I Filed March 5, 1934 INVENTORS JOSEPH B. SANDO 8:

Patented July 2, 1935 PATEN CE FRESSING MACHINE AND CONTROL 1 "MECHANISM THEREFOR Joseph B. Sande, Norwood, and Harold F. "-"Gr'ubler, Cinc'innatiyOhio, assi'gnors to The American Laundry- Machinery Company, Norwood; hio, acorporationof Ohio A p lication Ma rch 5, i934, SerialNo. 713,968

28 Claims. 'Ifhis invention relates to a press of the type gen rally used in garmentor laundry work and to'a'controlmechanismtherefofi Qne object ofJthe invention is to provide a press havihg a movable intoregistration beneath a gredhad and then'ifito final pressure engagem ntand in which both movements are caused by isten and cylinder'niount'e'dto "swivel upon a pivot :i'n verti'cafalignnieht beneath the head. P In ap'ress, "movement 'ofthe piston in one direction swings the bed into registration beneath the head arid'movemnt' of the piston in the opposite'directio'r'i causes pressure engagement betweeirthe" ea'e d head.

' ,fhnother'object offthe invention is to provide in a ress of the above mentioned type a relatively long piston stroke 'ii'npelle'dby 'low pressure fluid forcausing' the registeringmovementand a relatively short piston stroke impelled by high 7 pressure" iluid f or' causing the final pressure engag ep H. v .4

Another object of the invention is M i to provide a rotary valve for automatically connecting opposite ends 'of a cylinder -sucl'i'as above described witha fluid pressuresupply; depending upon the position of the pressing bed.

Another object or the invention is to provide a two hand (gonna fofa brs's bf the 'cla'ss describedwhereby one manuaieontmi admits fluid ,3 pressure to the operating minder to cause registering movement-of the press-members and automatically latches suclrmembers in registering position, while the other manual control admits fluid pressure to the operating cylinder to cause final pressure engagement after the parts reach registering position:

' Another object of the invention is to provide, in a press of the class described, means operated 4 O automatically-by movement of the pressing members into pressureengagement for establishing a fluid'pre'ssure circuit for maintaining said press CIOSedLZL -.'l ,,.i,,. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation somewhat "diagrammatic in form showing a laundry press embodyingour invention and having our novel control mechanism "applied" thereto; Fig. 2

is an enlarged detail view ofthe' valve mechanis'r'n withth 'e cylinder inthe position of Fig. 1; while Fig.3 'isa diagrammatic view of the piston, the rotary valvefandthe'fluid pressure control valves; withthe parts'intheposition correspondi gto the" brokendine'position'of the'bed shown in i l." a .5 press comprises in'general a fra me IOsupporting a pressing head II. A bed I2 is supported for vertical movement ina carriage l3 which is movable into and out of registration with the pressing head by means of rollers l4 travelling on rails [5. 'A cylinder I6 is pivotally mounted on trunnions I! in vertical alignment beneath the head E i and a piston i8, reciprocable in the cylinder, is connected by piston rod-l9 with stem of the pressing bed. Movement of the piston l8 from the position shown in Fig. 1 10 downwardly in the cylinder causes the bed 12 to move'laterally toward registering position (shown in broken lines) where it is held by-a latch 2| and at the same time aligns the'piston rod between the pivotal support i! and the pressing head; With the parts in this aligned position pressure is admitted beneath piston I8 to move it upwardly andcause final pressure engagement between the pressing members. V 1

" Our control mechanism comprises in general a rotary valve, the ports of which are actuated by the swivelling movement of cylinder Hi from its forward or open position into its bed-registering position. The valve illustrated has a stationary core 28 and a coacting sleeve 29 rotatable by movement of cylinder [6 about its pivot. Two manual controls are provided for the fluid pressure supply to the operating cylinder. Manual 26 which controls the pressure supply to the space above piston l8 has a connection with the latch member 2| and'a second control handle 39 s'upplies'fiuid pressure beneath piston 18 when the parts are in registering position. Fluid under pressure is supplied from a suitable source 22. A reducing valve 23 supplies low pressure fluid to conduit 24 which is controlled by valve 25, which in turn is actuated by handle 26. With the parts in the position of Figs. 1 and 2, this low pressure fluid Will travel by way of conduit 21, port'3ll in the valve core, and port 3| in the casing, to conduit 32 and the upper end of cylinder l6. At the same time the lower end of cylinder I6 is connected with exhaust by conduit 33,- port 34 in the casing, port 35 in the core, conduit 36 and exhaust muffler 31. Ports 3!] and 35 are flared as shown to coast with ports 3| and 34 during most'of the registering movement. The momentum of the bed and associated parts I will completethe small increment of movement necessary to'cause complete registration. This moves the bed into registering position shown. in broken lines, Fig. 1, which moves the valve and cylinder into the position of Fig. 3.

1 'In thisposition the upper end of the cylinder 2 is exhausted by way of conduit 32, port 3| in the rotary valve casing, port 35 in the core, and exhaust conduit 36. At the same time, high pressure fluid is conducted through conduit 22, con

trol valve 38 (by depression of control handle 39) 'through conduit 49, port 4| in the valve core .and port 34 in the casing to conduit 33 which communicates with the lower end of cylinder l6. Thisraises the bed l2 into pressure engagement with the head Piston I8 .is then in the dotdash positionshown in Fig. 3.

A maintaining circuit is provided for holding;

the press in closed position'so that the operator may release the control .handles. This circuit comprises a conduit 6| communicating with high- -p'ressure conduit 22, a normally open valve 62 which may be located in the same casing with valves 45 and 59, a conduit 63, a normally closed valve 64 which is opened automatically when the press closes, and conduit 65, which communicates through conduit 40, port 4| in therotary valve core 28, port 34 in thevalvecasing and conduit 33, with the space beneath piston I8. p

:The means for automatically opening valve 64 when thepressis closed comprises .an arm, pivoted to the frame and having a free end contacting the stem of valve 64. A bracket 61 depending from the buck pedestal20 carries a follower 68in position to engage arm 66 when the bed-reaches registering position beneath the head, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1'. Movement of the bed into pressure engagement; with" the head causes'follower 68 to cam arm 66 in amanner to open valve 64. The maintaining circuit is thus established and the operator re leases the control handles, which permits latch 2| to rise to inoperative position. The press is v thus held securely closed by line pressure.

Upon completion of the pressing operation valve 62 is closed and valves 45 and 59 are opened. By closing valve 62 the pressure supply for the maintaining circuit is cut off. By opening valve 45 the pressure is relieved from the lower end of cylin'der I6 by means of port 42 in the casing in Fig. 1 When the bed moves into registration spring 60 is placed in tension. When the pressure is released at the close of a pressing operation and the press opens, the spring returns the bed forwardly. During this portion of the cycle piston I8 movesv upward in the cylinder. To facilitate I this movement the upper end of the cylinder is connected with exhaust by conduit 32, port 3| in the casing, port 30 in the core, conduit 21, and a branch conduit 21 leading to'a valve 50,

which is opened simultaneously with the release of final pressure. As illustrated, valve 59 is carried by the'same stem as valve 45and is actuated by foot treadle 49. It will be notedthatthe lower end of cylinder I6 is vented during the movement of piston l8 upward to prevent the creation of a vacuum. This venting is by way of, conduit33, port 34, port 35 and conduit 36.

1 As explained in connection with the registering movement, ports 30 and 35 will coact with ports 3| and 34 through substantially the entire movement out of registration, and the weight of the parts will be sufllcient to complete such movement. i Means is provided to insure approach and sep arating movement-of the pressing members in a direction perpendicular to the pressing surfaces to prevent disarrangement of the lay of the work. The means illustrated comprises a roller or pin 69 carried by the buck pedestal and adapt-. ed'to engage in a cam slot 10 formed in a member supported on the frame. The cam slot has a portion II at its inner end which extends substantially normal to the pressing surfaces, in this case vertically.- The bed is thus constrained to move horizontally into and out of registering position but is confined to a vertical movement while approaching and receding from the head.

The operating mechanism for latch 2| includes a bell crank having anupwardly extending arm 5| normally biased rearwardly by spring 52'and movable forwardly by link 53 which has an operative connection with the manual control 26.

The bell crankhas an arm 54. which lies beneath latch 2 I, both the latch and the bell crank being 'pivotally mounted on the frame. at'55. A spring 56 normally maintains latch 2| in contact with bell crank arm 54 while permitting yieldin movement upwardof thelatch. When the bed I 2 and its carriage are swung into registering position, the latch 2| is cammed upwardly by the detent 51 on the bed carriage and immediately snaps into engagement with the detent impelled by the spring. 56. The yielding movement upward of latch 2| is provided to avoid jarring the oper ators hold upon control handle 26. s

The operation of the press is as follows: With the parts inthe full line position of Fig. l, the operator arranges the lay of the work upon'bed I2 and depresses the manual controls 26 and 39.

Depression of the controlhandle 26 moves latch 2| into operative position and admits low pressure fluid to the upper side of piston l8. This swings the bed and its carriage into registering position where they are retained by latch 2|. Depression of control handle 39 now causes high pressurefluid to be admitted beneath piston; l8 due to the connections established by the rotary valve as the cylinder moved'into the position of Fig. 3. that is, with the bed in the broken line position of Fig. I. The bed then moves into pressure engagement with the head. During this movement follower 66 acts on arm 66 to open valve 64 which establishes the maintaining circuit and the'operator releases the manualcontrols. Upon completion of the pressing operation the operator de-' presses foot treadle 49, thus closing valve 62 and opening release valves 45 and 50, which exhausts the fluid pressure below piston I8, whereupon the bed and its associated parts move downwardly impelled by gravity and, when pin 69 clears slot portion 1|, spring 60 returns the bed to its for: ward or out of registration position.

The operator must depress both of handles, 26 and 39 until the press closesand is thus protected against hand injuries.

What we claim is:

the control 1. In a press of the .class described, a fixed pressing head, a pressing bed movable into and out of registration beneath the head, a cylinder ivotally supported beneath the head, a piston in the cylinder having a piston rod connected with. said bed, means for moving said piston in one direction in said cylinder to cause registration of the bed with the head and to rotate the cylinderr about its pivot, said bed in registering position ibeing aligned; between-the head and the pivotalsupportfm said cylinder, and means for automatically reversingthe direction of said pistonimoveinent, when said bedreaches registering position, whereby said bed is moved into pressure en a ement with said head.

2; Ina press of the class described, a fixed pressingheada carriage movable into and out fjre istration beneathth h ad, id sa carriage movement, apressing bed supported. by the -,carriage for substantially vertical moveinent relative thereto, ,a cylinder pivotally supported in-venticaL-alignment beneaththe head, a piston in- -said cylin der having a'piston rod connected with; saidabedand so arranged that movement of saidpiston rod toward said pivot moves said carriage into, registration and movement of I said rod away from said pivot when the carriage registens with the head causes pressing approach of'gsaid head and bed, a valvev having conduit connections with said'cylinder' on opposite sides of said-piston and with; a source of fluid pressure supply, means for moving said valve by movement of saidcarr-iageintoand out of registration, and saidvalveand its connections being arranged to apply effective pressure alternatively against opposite-faces of said piston dependent upon the position of said carriage.

3. ln-a press of the class described, a fixed pressing head, a carriage movableinto and out of registration beneath the head, guides for said carriage movement, a pressing bed supported by the carriage for substantially vertical movement relative thereto, a cylinder pivotally supported in vertical alignment beneath the head, a piston in saidcylinder having a piston rod connected with said: bed and so arranged that movement of said piston downward moves said carriage into registration and rotates said cylinder about its pivot, and movement of said piston upward when the carriage registers with the head causes pressing approach of said head and bed, a valve rotatable with said cylinder about the axis of-saidpivotal Y, support, said valve having conduit connections with said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston and-.with a source of fluid pressure supply, and said valve and its connections being arranged to apply effective pressure alternatively against opposite faces of said piston dependent upon the position of said cylinder.

4. In a press of the class described, a fixed pressing head, a carriage movable into and out of registration beneath the head, guides for said carriage movement, a pressing bed supported by the carriage for substantially vertical movement relative thereto, a cylinder pivotally supported in vertical alignment beneath the head, a piston in said cylinder having a piston rod connected with said bedv and so arranged. that movement of said piston downward moves said carriage into registration and rotates said cylinder about its pivot, and movement of said piston upward when the carriage registers with the head causes pressingapproach of said head andbed, a valve having conduit connections with opposite sides of said piston and with a source of fluid pressure supply and with an exhaust, said valve being arranged in one position to apply effective pressure on the upper face of said piston when the carriage is out of registration, said valve being arranged in another position to apply eifective, pressure on the lower face of said piston when thecarriage is in registration, and means to move said valve from oneposition to the other as the ,carriage :rnoves-into and out of registration.

5. In a press of the class described, a fixed r n head a ar ia o abl i t nd o t of registrationbeneath the headguides for said carriagernove nent a pressing bed supported by the carriage for substantially verticalmovement relative thereto, a cylinder pivotally supported invertical alignment'beneath the head, a piston said cylinder having a piston rod connected with saidbed and so arranged that movement of said piston downward moves said carriage into registration and rotates said cylinder about its pivot, andmovement of said pistonupward when the carriage registers withthe head; causes pressing approach of said head and bed, a valve movh gnformah yltoth mo m n i ai a riage, said valve having conduit connections cs tablishing, com nynication between the upper face of; said pistonanda source offluid pressure when e. a ia e is ou o Est mat o a ual mean for in a rggvthe flow-of fipidpressure to said,

val nsuchposition, and said valvehaving its the and mov m nts; ran e a to y positions, and a connection with said manual means for holding said retaining means in operativeposition when saidrnanual means is in its flow initiating position.

'7. 'Ihe combinaticn of claim 5 including, a second manual means for initiating the flow of fluid pressure tosaid valve in its last named position.

3. The combination of claim 5 including, means for releasing the pressure against the lower face of saidpiston, and means for returning the parts to out of registration position.

In combination, a pivotally supported cylin der having adouble-acting piston therein, a piston rod rigidly connected with the piston, a track angularlydisposed relative to the cylinder axis, a body movable along the track, a connection between said body and said piston rod whereby movement of said piston in said cylinder moves the body along the track and rotates the cylinder about its, pivot, a rotaryvalve having core and casing portions, one of said portions being stationary and the other portion being rotatable by movement of the. cylinder about its pivot, said rotatable portion having a first port and a conduit connecting the same to one end of the cylinder, said rotatable portion having a second port and a conduit connecting the same to the other endof the cylinder, said stationary portion having ports arranged to connect the first port to a source of fluid pressure and the second port to exhaustduring a relatively large rotative movement of the cylinder and rotative portion in one direction, the momentum of said body movement along the track causing furtherrnovement of the parts in the same direction into final position, saidstationary portion having other ports arranged in said final position to connect the first port to exhaust and the second port to a source of fluid pressure, means for relieving the lastnamed pressure, and 'neans for returning the partsin theopposite direction.

110. In a ,-pressing machine, apair of coactino r ss n m bfit ne. c rh ch. i m vable i and out of registration and into and out of pressure engagement with the other, power means for causing movement of said movable member into registration and into pressure engagement with said power means for actuating said power means to cause said into-registration movement, and said control member in its second position estab lishing a power supply circuit for actuating said power means'to cause said into-pressure-engagemerit movement.

11. Ina press having a pair of coacting pressing members one of which is arranged for movement into and out of registration and movement into final pressure engagement with the other member, the combinationof fluid pressure actuated power means for causing said movements, means for operating said power means including a valve shiftable to first and second positions bymovement of said movable member out of andinto registrationrespectively, said valve in its first position having conduit connections with said power means and a sourceof fluid supply for actuating said power means for causing said into-registration movement, and said valve in its second position having fluid supply connections for actuating said power means for causing said into-pressure-e-ngagement movement.

12. In a pressing machine, a pair of (meeting pressing members one of which is stationary and the other-movable into and out of registration and into and out of pressure engagement with said stationary memben'double-aoting movable abutment means having a pivotal support.

in alignment with said members in their registering position, a link connecting said abutment means with said movable member, a valve shiftable to first and second positions by movement of said movable member out of and into registration respectively, said valve in its first position establishing fluid supply circuits for actuating said'abutment means in one direction to move said movable member to cause into-registration movement thereof, andsaid valve in its second position establishing fluid supply circuits for actuating said abutment means in another direction to 'move said'movable member into pressure engagement with said stationary member.

13. A pressing machine as in claim 12, including a manually operable valve controlling the fluid supply to said shiftable valve,and means operable by movement of said movable member into pressure engagement for establishing a fluid supply to said shiftable valve independent of said manually operable valve.

14. A pressing machine as in claim 12, including two manually operable valves, one controlling the fluid supply to said shiftable valve in its Qfirst position, and the other controlling the fluid supply to said shiftable valve in its second position. 7

15. In a press of the class described, a fixed pressing member, a movable pressing member, a cylinder and piston motor having a pivotal support, means for guiding said movable memsaid pistonin two directions, whereby movement of said piston in one direction moves'said movable member into alignment and movement of.

said piston in the other direction moves said movable member into engagement with said fixed member. 7 a

16. In a press of the class describecLa pair of coacting pressing members, one of said members having a preliminary movement laterally into pressing position and'a final closing move-' ment, a piston motor having a pivotal support in vertical alignment with the other of said press: ing members, the'pist'o'n of said motor having a connection for moving said movable member,

and fluid pressure means for movingsaid piston in two directions, whereby to cause said preliminary movement when said piston moves vertically therein, a piston motor pivotally sup-- ported on the frame in vertical alignment beneath the head, fluid pressure means :or moving said piston in two directions, a connection between said piston and bed whereby to move said carriage into registering position when said piston moves downward and to raise said bed into pressing engagement with the head when the piston moves upward, and releasable means for retaining said bed in registering position. 7

18. In a press of the class described, a frame, a pressing head supported by the frame, acarriage movable into and out of registration beneathv the head, a pressing bed supported by the carriage and slidable vertically therein, a cylinder'having a pivotal support onsaid frame vertically aligned beneath the head and below the path of travel of said carriage, a piston having a piston rod rigidly. connected therewith in said cylinder, a direct connection between said rod and said bed, and'means for supplying fluid pressure successively to the upper and lower ends of said cylinder.

'19. In a press of the class described, a fixed V pressing head, a pressing bed movable laterally into and out of registrationbeneath the head, a cylinder pivotally supported in vertical alignment beneath the head,a piston in'the cylinder having a piston rod directly connected with said. bed, and fluid means for moving said pistonin' alignment beneath the head, a pressing bed movable into and out of alignment between said bed movement, a connection between said bed and the 7 piston rod of said motor, operating means for moving said piston downward to cause movement of said bed and piston rod into aligned position, means for holding said bed in aligned position, and said operating means being adapted to move said piston upward to cause pressing approach between the bed and head. n

I 21; In a press of theclass described, .a fixed pressing head, a carriagemovable laterally'into and out of registration beneath the head, guides head and pivot, guides limiting the path of said for said carriage movement, a pressing bed supported by the carriage and slidable vertically therein, a cylinder pivotally supported in vertical alignment with the center of the head, a piston in said cylinder having a piston rod connected with said bed whereby movement of said piston downward moves said carriage into registration and movement of said piston upward when the carriage registers with the head causes pressing approach of said head and bed, and means for supplying fluid pressure to move said piston in each direction.

22. In a press of the class described, fixed pressing head, a carriage movable into and out of registration beneath the head, guides for said carriage movement, a pressing bed supported by the carriage for substantially vertical movement relative thereto, a cylinder pivotally supported in vertical alignment beneath the head and below the path of travel of said carriage, a piston in said cylinder having a piston rod connected with said bed whereby movement of said piston downward moves said carriage into registration and rotates said cylinder about its pivot and movement of said piston upward when the carriage registers with the head causes pressing approach of said head and bed, means for supplying fluid pressure to each end of the cylinder, said cylinder being of such length that said piston traverses substantially the entire cylinder in its downward movement, and said bed in its registering position being spaced a short distance from said head, whereby a small volume of fluid causes pressing approach of said head and bed.

23. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing head carried thereby, a coacting pressing bed movable into and out of registration beneath said head, guiding means for said'bed movement, means for locking said bed in its registering position, and means for moving said bed comprising a double-acting cylinder and piston motor, a link connected with said motor and with said bed in such a manner that movement of said piston in one direction moves said bed into registering position and looks it there, said link being constructed and arranged in a manner to be positioned by said into-registration bed movement in alignment below said registering head and bed, and said connection between said link and cylinder and piston motor being arranged to extend said link to raise said bed against said head by movement of said piston in the other direction.

24. In a pressing machine, a frame, a fixed pressing member carried thereby, a coacting pressing member movable into and out of registration with said fixed member, and means for moving said movable member comprising a double-acting cylinder and piston motor, a link connected with said motor and said movable member in such a manner that movement of said piston in one direction moves said movable member into registering position, said link being constructed and arranged in a manner to be positioned in alignment with said registering pressing members by said into-registration movement of said movable member, and said connection between said link and motor being arranged to extend said link to move said movable pressing member into engagement with said fixed pressing member by movement of said piston in the other direction.

25. In a pressing machine, a pair. of coacting relatively movable pressing members having a preliminary relative movement to position them adjacent one another and a final relativernovement into pressure engagement, and a doubleacting cylinder and piston motor having operative connections with at least one of said pressing members whereby to cause said preliminary relative movement by a stroke of said motor in one direction and to cause said final relative movement by a stroke of said motor in the other direction. 7

26. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members having a preliminary relative movement to position them adjacent one another and a final relative movement into pressure engagement, a double-acting cylinder-and piston motor having operative connections with at least one of said pressing members whereby to cause said preliminary relative movement by a stroke of said motor in one direction and to cause said final relative movement by a stroke of said motor in the other direction, and means for automatically reversing said motor upon completion of said preliminary relative movement.

27. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members having a preliminary relative movement to position them adjacent one another and a final relative movement into pressure engagement, a double-acting cylinder and piston motor having operative connections with at least one of said pressing members whereby to cause said preliminary relative movement by a stroke of said motor in one direction and to cause said final relative movement by a stroke of said motor in the other direction, a control valve having two positions, one for effective supply of motive fluid to said motor for causing each of said strokes, and means for moving said valve from one of its positions to the other upon completion or" said preliminary relative movement.

28. A pressing machine as in claim 25, and including manually controlled fluid supply means for causing said preliminary-movement-producing stroke of said motor, and fluid supply means actuated automatically upon completion of said preliminary relative'movement for causing said final-movement-producing stroke.

JOSEPH B. SANDO. HAROLD F. GRUBLER. 

